FAE

Science & Engineering abbreviation · Psychology

FAE
Stands forFundamental attribution error
CategoriesScience & Engineering

FAE stands for Fundamental attribution error, a psychology abbreviation.

Tendency to explain other people's behavior by their personality or character while underestimating the influence of the situation. For example, assuming a driver who cuts you off is rude rather than rushing to a hospital.

Example: The FAE leads managers to blame an employee's laziness rather than an unworkable schedule.

Usage notes

Stanford psychologist Lee Ross named the bias in 1977, building on Edward Jones and Victor Harris's 1967 study in which readers assumed essay writers believed views they had been assigned to argue. Cross-cultural research suggests the bias is weaker in more collectivist cultures. Also called correspondence bias.

More psychology abbreviations

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